Overview
Brand: Clairin - The Spirit of Haïti
Origin: Clairin Sonson Pierre Gilles, Cabaret, Archaie, Haiti
Still: Pot
Age: Unaged
Finish: n/a
ABV: 53.2%
Clairin Sonson is a core member of the La Maison & Velier clairin lineup, although it came (at least to Memphis) a little bit behind the initial slate of releases. Good things come to those who wait, as they say!
Sonson is produced by Stephen Khalil Saoud in the village of Cabaret, Archaie, just across the bay from Port-au-Prince. He cultivates and harvests the Madame Meuze sugarcane varietal on his land, before using it to create the sugarcane syrup that is then fermented and pot-distilled to create the clairin we have in front of us today.
The clairin is bottled in Port-au-Prince at a strength of 53.2% ABV.
Appearance
Clear, medium viscosity
Nose
Freshly-cut pineapple, buttered popcorn, star anise, gherkin pickle brine
Palate
Sugarcane, grilled pineapple, buttered popcorn, green bell pepper, bay leaf
Finish
Long, herbal, vegetal; bay leaf, sugarcane, bell pepper, hint of black pepper
Rating: 7/10
Summary
Sonson is a fantastic clairin. It's got the vegetal and funk qualities we expect from the Haitian spirit, but accents these notes with a unique buttery flavor.
Acidic pineapple, freshly-cut, bursts off the nose, joined by buttered popcorn in a tug-of-war between sweet/fruity and savory; a touch of star anise and brine come through on the tail end. Fresh sugarcane, grilled pinepalle, and buttered popcorn take center stage on the palate, with bay leaf transitioning to the finish, that also yields bell pepper and black pepper.
I haven't yet been let down by a clairin. Sonson, like the other releases in the Spirit of Haiti portfolio, perfectly showcases the uniqueness of this sugarcane spirit in an enjoyable way.